The initiative has sparked controversy due to the imposition of population-related conditions...
Digital Desk: The Assam government launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), a financial support scheme designed to foster rural micro-entrepreneurship.
However, the initiative has sparked controversy due to the imposition of population-related conditions on beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the scheme on January 11, revealing that women from general and OBC categories are limited to three children, while women from Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) are allowed up to four children to qualify for benefits. The Moran, Motok, and 'tea tribes,' advocating for ST status, are also subject to a four-child cap.
Sarma defended this move by linking it to his 2021 announcement of implementing a two-child policy for specific state-funded schemes, with plans to extend it gradually to all government beneficiary schemes. The aim is to encourage women to focus on utilizing funds for business development rather than being burdened by childcare responsibilities.
The MMUA targets women in rural self-help groups, aspiring to transform them into "rural micro-entrepreneurs" with a targeted annual income of ₹1 lakh per member. Despite approximately 39 lakh women in rural Assam being engaged in self-help groups, around 5 lakh may be excluded from MMUA due to the imposed limit on the number of children.
Under the scheme, the government has outlined 145 business plans for eligible beneficiaries to choose from. In the first year, participants meeting the basic criteria will receive ₹10,000. Subject to effective fund utilization, the government plans to provide ₹12,500 in the subsequent two years, along with a ₹12,500 loan from a bank.
Aside from the population-related condition, beneficiaries must fulfill two other criteria: enrolling girl children in school and ensuring the survival of trees planted under the government's Amrit Brikshya Andolan tree plantation drive.
The MMUA stands as a significant initiative with the potential to empower rural women, but the contentious population-related conditions have sparked debates regarding their appropriateness and impact on inclusivity.
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